7 Shocking Facts About Sofia Pernas's Tracker Character, Billie Matalon, And Her Explosive Season 2 Return

The dynamic between Sofia Pernas and her real-life husband, Justin Hartley, has become one of the most compelling reasons to tune into the hit CBS action-drama Tracker. As of December 15, 2025, the latest buzz is all about Pernas’s highly-anticipated, recurring role as Billie Matalon, a character who is not just a rival to Hartley’s Colter Shaw but also a former flame, adding layers of high-stakes tension and personal drama to the series. Her return in Season 2 has been teased as a game-changer, forcing the lone-wolf survivalist Colter Shaw to confront his past while navigating complex professional team-ups.

Billie Matalon is far more than a simple guest star; she is Colter Shaw's equal, a fellow "rewardist" who uses her own expert tracking skills to find missing persons and claim bounties, often putting her directly in competition with the show's protagonist. The casting choice—pairing the two actors who are married in real life—has amplified the on-screen chemistry, turning their professional rivalry into a fan-favorite element that is both fresh and unique to the show's narrative, especially with the latest developments in the new season.

Sofia Pernas: A Profile of the Actress Behind Billie Matalon

Sofia Pernas brings a wealth of international experience and a captivating screen presence to every role she undertakes. Her portrayal of complex, driven women like Billie Matalon is a culmination of a diverse career spanning soap operas, military dramas, and action-adventure series. Here is a brief look at her profile:

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• Full Name: Sofia Pernas
• Date of Birth: July 31, 1989
• Place of Birth: Fes, Morocco
• Nationality: Moroccan-American
• Ethnicity: Moroccan (Mother) and Spanish (Father)
• Residence: Los Angeles, California
• Spouse: Justin Hartley (Married 2021)
• Early Career Ambition: Initially planned to pursue a career in journalism.
• Breakout Role: Marisa Sierras on the long-running soap opera The Young and the Restless (2015–2017).
• Notable TV Roles:
  • Catalina on Jane the Virgin (2016–2017)
  • Hannah Rivera on the military drama The Brave (2017–2018)
  • Lexi Vaziri on the action-adventure series Blood & Treasure (2019–2022)
  • Billie Matalon on Tracker (2024–Present)

The Billie Matalon Dossier: Colter Shaw's Fiercest Rival

Billie Matalon is introduced to the audience as a formidable force in the world of reward seeking, a field dominated by lone-wolf survivalists like Colter Shaw. She is not a sidekick or a damsel in distress; she is a direct and highly skilled competitor who operates on the same level as the main protagonist. The complexity of her character is rooted in her shared history with Colter, which blurs the lines between professional competition and deeply personal unresolved feelings.

1. She is a 'Rewardist,' Not Just a Tracker

The term "rewardist" is central to the show's premise, and Billie embodies it perfectly. Like Colter, Billie Matalon travels the country using her expert skills to locate missing persons or objects for a monetary reward. This puts her in direct conflict with Colter, as they often chase the same bounty. Her methods can sometimes be more pragmatic or ethically ambiguous than Colter's, highlighting a philosophical difference in their approach to the job. This rivalry is what drives much of her initial screen time, establishing her as a genuine threat to Colter's business.

2. Billie and Colter Are Former Lovers

The most charged element of the Billie Matalon character is her romantic past with Colter Shaw. Their history is hinted at as a passionate but complicated relationship that ended, yet clearly left an impact on both of them. This dynamic means their professional encounters are always laced with personal tension, flirtation, and unresolved issues. In one notable Season 1 episode, this history is explored in detail, revealing a deep connection that makes their rivalry even more explosive. This former relationship is the core of their on-screen chemistry, which is naturally heightened by the fact that the actors, Sofia Pernas and Justin Hartley, are married in real life.

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3. Her Season 2 Return Is a Major Story Arc

Fans were thrilled by the news that Billie Matalon would be a recurring character in Tracker Season 2. The most recent updates confirm her return, often in situations where she and Colter are forced to team up. This shift from pure rivalry to reluctant partnership is a key topical development in the series. According to some reports, her Season 2 appearances involve high-stakes missions where Colter recruits her for her specific skills, such as infiltrating a women's organization, suggesting her moral compass may be more flexible than his.

4. She is Colter's Intellectual and Physical Equal

Billie Matalon is not a character designed to make Colter Shaw look better; she is his equal in every sense. She is intelligent, resourceful, physically capable, and possesses her own network of contacts, separate from Colter's team (Teddi Bruin, Velma Bruin, and Bobby Exley). This parity ensures that when they compete, the outcome is genuinely uncertain, and when they collaborate, the action is significantly elevated. This level of competence is a hallmark of the characters Sofia Pernas typically plays, such as the adventurous art historian Lexi Vaziri in Blood & Treasure, a role that required both wit and action skills.

The Real-Life Connection That Fuels the On-Screen Fire

The electric tension between Billie and Colter is undeniably amplified by the real-life marriage of Sofia Pernas and Justin Hartley. Their relationship began after working together on The Young and the Restless, and they married in 2021. This off-screen connection brings a natural, easy chemistry to their scenes in Tracker that few on-screen pairings can replicate. When they argue, flirt, or reluctantly rely on each other, the history and comfort between the actors translate into believable, captivating television.

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5. Pernas Loves Playing the 'Nemesis' Role

In interviews, Sofia Pernas has expressed her enjoyment of playing a character who is a nemesis to her husband's character. She appreciates the complexity of Billie Matalon—a woman who is both a professional rival and a former love interest. This dynamic allows her to challenge Colter Shaw in ways no other character can, pushing his boundaries and forcing him to confront his own vulnerabilities. Her role provides a crucial foil to the lone-wolf nature of Colter, making the series more about his internal world than just his external missions.

6. The Character Provides Critical Topical Authority

Billie Matalon is a powerful entity within the Tracker universe because she expands the show's topical authority beyond Colter's immediate circle. By introducing another highly competent rewardist, the series establishes that Colter's world is vast and filled with other skilled professionals. This world-building is essential for the long-term success of the show, providing a constant source of new conflicts, team-ups, and moral dilemmas. Her return in Season 2 ensures that the narrative continues to explore this broader ecosystem of "trackers" and "rewardists."

7. Her Future on the Show is Intentionally Ambiguous

One of the most exciting aspects of Billie Matalon is her non-regular status. As a recurring guest star, her appearances are always impactful and unpredictable. The show's writers can use her to shake up the status quo, introduce new plot lines, or deepen Colter's character development without committing her to every episode. This ambiguity keeps the audience curious: Will she be a friend or foe in the next mission? Will their romantic past resurface and complicate his current relationships? This uncertainty is a key driver of fan engagement and ensures that every episode featuring Sofia Pernas is a must-watch event.

Conclusion: The Enduring Appeal of Billie Matalon

Sofia Pernas's portrayal of Billie Matalon has successfully injected a necessary dose of high-octane personal drama and professional rivalry into the already popular Tracker series. Her character is a perfect blend of competence and complication, serving as both Colter Shaw’s fiercest competitor and a living reminder of his past. With her confirmed return in the latest Season 2 episodes, Billie Matalon continues to be a pivotal figure whose presence guarantees a compelling, fresh, and explosive viewing experience that challenges the protagonist and delights the audience.